Isaac’s Journey to Salvation
The rain beat down on the windshield of the black suburban. As lightning crackled across the sky, Isaac felt the cold steel pressed against the side of his skull. His hand shook violently as tears rolled down his face. One breath, one beat, that is all it took. He pictured his cheerful daughter’s face for what he believed to be the last time. He closed his eyes. And squeezed the trigger.
Isaac awoke to the sound of a beeping vitals monitor. A nurse was changing out his IV as Isaac woke. He slowly began to move his body, his muscles pushing against his ambition to move.
The nurse looked down at him and exclaimed, “Oh you’re awake! Stay put I will get the doctor right away. Try to stay as still as possible.”
A few seconds passed before the doctor came in. “Ah Mr. Martinson glad to see you are finally awake. You have been out for some time now. Around 2 and half weeks it has been. You are very fortunate to have survived something like this.”
Isaac’s throat croaked lightly, “Where is my family? Where is Charlotte?”
“Ah yes… your family. We attempted to contact them multiple times. Both your wife and your father have refused to answer our calls or respond to our repeat voicemails left for them. But nevertheless, lets focus on your health for the time being. I have some physical therapy planned out for you for whenever you awoke. With some time, we should have you back out in the streets of Chicago within the next few weeks. We also have some emotional therapy sessions we scheduled you for as well during those weeks.”
“Please! I just want to see my daughter. I want to know she is safe.”
The doctor knelt down beside Isaac’s bedside, “I understand completely Mr. Martinson. But right now, you are my patient and I want to do what is best for you. I want to make sure you can go out and see your daughter with confidence in your heart.”
Throughout the next few weeks Isaac spent his time focusing on his mental and physical wellbeing. Through all of it though, the thought of his wife and her new “man” burned at the back of Isaac’s head. She had Charlotte, she had his house, and she still had his heart. With sadness and rage in his mind, Isaac drove back to home.
It was clear night as the moon beat down across the skyline. Shadows of the towering buildings were cast onto the suburban neighborhood. Isaac sat patiently across the street waiting and watching towards the exterior of his old home. Inside he could see his wife watching TV and her daughter playing with her doll set which Isaac gifted her for Christmas.
About 20 minutes passed before the blue Mustang pulled into the driveway. A bearded man of muscular build exited the car before shambling his way to the door. He fiddled with his keys before dropping them and nearly fell over in attempting to pick them up. As he made his way inside, Isaac kept a close watch. The man stumbled over to the living room area as he grabbed Isaac’s wife by the waist and pulled her in close for a kiss. Afterwards he moved over to interact with Charlotte. Charlotte began to slowly recoil as the man approached nearer to her. She looked frightened. Isaac watched on waiting to see how the man would react. The man pushed the child over and snatched away her toys in what appeared to be a small argument. Isaac’s wife was visibly shaken but did not say anything. The man took the toys and started pulling and breaking them in front of the child.
Isaac’s anger and rage grew before he finally worked up the courage to put on the mask, grab the pistol and make his way to the front door. Bashing open the door, the residents turned around with a jolt. Isaac’s breath was heavy and loud.
A silence washed over the household before the drunk man finally spoke up, “Who the hell do you think you are barging into my house?!”
The man quickly approached Isaac from the living room. Isaac held up the pistol and without hesitation or any remark pulled the trigger.
To be continued…
